Caught in one of Vietnam's monsoons, Mike Donovan and Deniese Daltrey found themselves stranded at Hanoi airport, with no hope for a quick departure back to the states. Donovan and Deniese's work had brought them here in
an effort to investigate reports that some former Cambodian P.O.W.s had been captured by Visitors and were left to die in concentration camps. But when Donovan and Deniese got there they found only a hundred of those prisoners
still clinging to life. The discovery was a cry for help and brought in missionary efforts from other
countries. The people, mostly children and the elderly, had been of no immediate value to the Visitors who wanted middle aged and young adults who could fight their battles and  participate in reproduction programs. Now they were left homeless and without families.

One teenage girl's presence took Donovan by surprise. She called herself Khien Su Tyler. At first, Donovan was
skeptical as a good reporter should be, but how could he not hope that this was Ham Tyler's missing child? She was the right age. After having people translate for her, the truth was undeniable. His biggest battle would be getting
her out of the country. He would need to locate a birth certificate which was as easy as looking for a needle in a
haystack in instances like these. Because Khien Su was a refugee, many of her possessions had been left in the places from which she'd came. When Donovan last saw her just yesterday, she clung to him, begging him  not to let her die there and he made her the promise of finding her a way out.

Deniese hung up a pay phone and turned back to her co-reporter with a frown. "No luck today."

"Damn," he uttered, tossing a paper cup into the nearest waste receptacle.

"I don't know how much more rice I can take," she added, watching him bite his nails. "You're worried about Julie?"

He didn't answer the obvious.

"Maybe you should call her," she recommended.

"No sense in that. Not until I have some answers."

"I'll make the hotel reservations." She picked up the receiver and started to dial, but he reached out and pressed
the lever preventing her from making the call.

"Not so fast. We need to get back to Kampucheah. I'll bet those records are there."

"Cambodia?" She protested. "C'mon, you saw the news reports, most of those places are flooded out."

"Look, Deniese, I need to get Khien Su out now. I may not have another chance."

"Allright," she agreed, grabbing her things and following  him out to the overcrowded bus terminal.
 
 

Barefoot and unable to see her toes, Julie Parrish stood on Hannah Donnenfield's coffee table having her oversized
belly measured. It hadn't been her idea to participate in Sari's upcoming Halloween party. Julie knew  that she'd be
more than content to stay out of the monotony rather than have her colleagues dote on her like their prized guinea
pig. She glanced at her watch and shrugged.

he old woman who was taking on the role of seamstress patted Julie's stomach.  "Not much longer, Dear."

"This is ridiculous," Julie scowled. "No matter what you make for me I'll look like a beach ball. Why can't I just
skip it? I haven't been feeling good lately. I don't like  parties."

"Nonsense," Hannah told her.  "You're well enough to work then you're well enough to go to a party."

"We don't have to bob for apples, do we? I'd hate to lose my balance and fall in. Its not exactly easy being short and
in this condition."

"Just ask Mitchell," said Sari James coming in from the kitchen with a tray of her fresh baked cookies.

"Its not the same thing," Julie protested.

"Yes, we've been waiting for years for Mitchell to have his baby, but nothing."

Hannah read the tape measure and smiled. "Thirty-six inches. I wonder if it'll be a big baby."

"I'd rather not think about about that," Julie admitted, taking Hannah's hand and stepping off of the table. "I'm not
going as a beach ball, am I?"

"Do you think I'd tell you if you were?"

Julie mulled it over in her mind. "To be humiliated or to spend some quality time with the people who actually care
about me..."

"No, no," Sari grinned. "I already told your boyfriend he has come."

"Not if he's out drinking with Pete," said Lauren Stewart, coming in and grabbing a cookie, then shoved it in her
mouth while taking a  seat on the Queen Anne styled sofa.

"Actually," Julie sighed, "He and Deniese aren't back from Vietnam yet."

Hannah sat down with her causing the sofa to creak in protest. "What's the matter with Peter?"

"It's not Peter that's the problem. Its his ex-wife. She keeps the girls from  him just to mess with his mind, I
swear. I'm just sick of the sadistic games she plays. I just want him to myself for a weekend."

"Aw," Sari cooed pouring them each a glass of lemonade.

"She's not staying forever," Julie cut in.

"Precisely," Lauren nodded. "Can you imagine how its going to affect him when she packs up Karen and Amy and moves back to Hawaii? He'll end up in the Betty Ford Clinic."

Hannah reached over and massaged her shoulder.  "Everything's going to be okay. I'll talk to Pete for you."
 

With her heart beating quickly, little asian girl followed her mother and a priest out of a burning church in Saigon. The priest promised food and another warm place to stay, but safety could not be guaranteed.

"Come, Khien!" called her mother, Mai Lai, tugging on the little girls arms.

Khien Su wailed in fear as another bomb fell on a building near by. Just five years old, Khien had lived most of her
life in fear. When South Vietnam had retaliated on Communist Cambodia, Khien Su and her mother had been taken as
prisoners of war. Their only hope was that Mai Lai's American huband and Khien's father would be able to rescue
them. Khien thought about how her daddy  had promised her a trip to a magical kingdom called Disneyland once they got home, but now she wondered if she would ever see her daddy again at all. She clung on tightly to the doll that her mother had sewn for her not so long ago and obediently marched along a few paces behind Father Jacoby and Mai Lai.

Down the alleyway was a jeep awaiting their arrival. Khien was lifted in and sat near her mother. Then the vehicle sped off in a hurry. The priest stayed behind. Khien watched as another bomb fell and Father Jacoby was killed. She buried her face in Mai Lai's lap and wondered if the fighting would ever stop....
 

"Wake up, Khien."

In a darkened room a much older Khien Su slept still clutching the doll that she had carried with her as a child. It was all that she had left of her mother who had disappeared shortly after the gargantuan spaceships arrived. Khien felt a cold hand on her shoulder and and stirred, looking into the familiar face of Terri Simms, a missionary from the U.S.

Terri pulled the string on Khien's window shade sending it up in a whirling frenzy.  Khien sat up seeing that it was
daylight.

"Mike...come?" she asked.

Terri shook her head pulling a pair of blue jeans and a tee shirt from the girl's trunk at the foot of her bed.  "No, but it stopped raining. Darrin's making breakfast for us this morning. Why don't you join us?"

"No eat."

Terri looked into the girls bloodshot eyes. "Khien, they won't let you leave if you're sick. You have to eat something."

 "No!" she insisted, laying back down and pulling her blanket up over her face.

With a quick motion, Terri pulled the cover away. "I know your stomach hurts when you eat and we're trying to find
medicine that will help. But if you don't eat, you'll die and you won't see your daddy again. Now I know you want to
see him, Khien."

Khien pulled her knees to her chest and started to sob. "Mike no stay... No see Daddy," she whimpered.

Reaching for a brush, Terri pulled Khien close then started stroking her thick, dark hair. "Of course you will,
Sweetie." Terri felt her own eyes swell with tears and said a silent prayer in hopes that God would grant the girl's
wish. "Talk to God," she said softly.

"No God," Khien argued. "Budda."

'How do you expect to help her if she doesn't believe, Lord?', Terri prayed.

Khien pulled away from Terri, got up and grabbed a statue from her trunk cradling it just as she had done to the
doll. She too said a silent prayer.
 

A week had passed since Deniese had left Donovan behind in Kampuchea to return home. In regards to whether or not Khien Su would be able to leave Vietnam, things were up in the air, and Deniese worried for Donovan as he was caught up in the middle of an impossible dream.

Deniese stepped off the Boeing 747 and out onto the wet asphalt at JFK International. A recent storm had delayed
many of the flights which left the airport in chaos. Many airplanes could not connect to their terminals so passengers
were forced to walk to their destinations.  Deniese met Julie Parrish in a small pub on the airport's north side.
Before Deniese even got close to Julie, she saw the woman's eyes glaze over with tears.

"What is he doing?" Julie gasped.

"He sends his love," Deniese replied, sensing that it wasn't reassuring enough for Julie.

"You didn't answer my question."  Julie pulled herself up onto a bar stool and motioned the bartender over then
ordered a Diet-Coke.

"He doesn't want you to worry," Deniese explianed, motioning for the bartender to bring a second.

"Bull!"

"How's the baby?"

Julie met her stare with an angry one. "Don't change the subject. What is Mike doing in Vietnam?"

"Why don't you trust Mike? He thinks the world of you. He loves you," Deniese went on.

"Then why is he there and not here with me?"

Deniese accepted her drink from the bartender and gave him a five to cover them. She sipped the straw thinking how
refreshing it was to have familiarity again. She chose her words carefully to answer Julie's question.

"He's helping to get one of the refugees out of the country."

"And what makes him or her so damned special?"

"Let's just say he knows her father on a personal level."

"They fought in Vietnam together?"

Deniese shook her head. "Well, if they did, they fought each other."

The condensation from Julie's glass began to form a ring on the counter and she wiped it away trying not to let her
anger show. Her back was killing her and she was exhausted.

"Okay, Ms. Daltrey. No more hokey pokey. Who is it?" she demanded.

"Ham Tyler's daughter, Khien Su."

Julie felt her jaw drop then asked, "Wh-what about her mother?"

Deniese shrugged. "She won't say. We think she died."

"Why doesn't he tell Ham?"

"Well, from what I hear, Donovan said Ham always acts irrationally. He said he doesn't want Ham to screw this up."

Julie snickered to herself, then the implications began to sink in. "How long is this going to take?"

"He has to get her birth certificate before any of the adoption proceedings can start."

"Adoption?!"

"Its the only way they'll let her out. Donovan plans to turn her over to Ham when he brings her here. Don't worry,
you're not getting another teenager to deal with. By the way, how is Sean?"

She nodded. "Fine."

"And the other one?"

"Fine."

"And you?" Deniese grinned.

"I'm...hanging in there."
 

'Damn it, Jean. Where the hell are you at?' thought Pete Forsythe slamming down the telephone. He stared at a full
bottle of Jim Beam that sat on his counter top, warm and alluring. 'You've been down that road once too many,' he
told himself.

Pete was angry. In the years that passed since he kicked the habit, his life had been one problem after another. He
could still remember like it was yesterday when his calls to his ex-wife had went unanswered. That was shortly after the Visitors came. And then for nearly three years Jean and his two daughters had vanished without a trace, to turn up recently in need. They'd spent their disappearance away in the south pacific where Jean was working on a secret
government project to defeat the Visitors. When the war was over, there was no need for the weapons and the project was cancelled. Jean turned up looking for work at Brook Cove, of all places. Pete wanted to kill her for keeping his
daughters from him. She made no excuses for her behavior and that was the end of it, or so she hoped. Now that she was settled and doing well, she wanted to return to Hawaii with the girls, but Pete had decided not to let them go without a fight.

Just as Pete picked up his bottle, the doorbell rang and he looked through the peep hole to see Lauren waiting
outside.

"Just a minute," he uttered, hiding the booze in a nearby cabinet. He even tidied up his stack of Medicine Journals a
bit before allowing her inside.

Lauren didn't hesitate to confront him about the obvious. "What's going on, Pete?"

"Hmm?" he asked, giving her a quick once over, admiring her form. He reached for her, pulling her near. "How nice of you to come and see me like this. How's Olav?"

She pulled away slightly, removing his hand from her waist. "I didn't come here to talk about work."

'What else is new?' he thought, but only said, "I missed you too."

"It's more than that," she rolled her eyes. "What's the deal with your ex?"

"I wish I knew. She hasn't been answering my calls. I wanted to take the girls out this weekend. Maybe we can all
go to a baseball game."

"Making up for lost time?" she wondered. "What about getting pumpkins, picking some apples..."

"What's the sense in carving pumpkins if they're leaving before Halloween?" he scoffed.

"I don't know. Family traditions, maybe.  She shouldn't be able to just take them away again. What she did was wrong,
you know."

"Yes, I do know that!" he said angrily.

"Hey, don't take it out on me. I'm not the one who's screwing you out of your children's' lives.  You know, if you'd call once and a while, maybe we could communicate."  She made herself comfy on the couch, fumbling with the
literature on the coffee table.

"I'm sorry. You wanna grab a bite to eat or something?"

"Ooh. You mean like a real date? Now there's an idea-"

"Well, actually, we'd better order in. I'm expecting a call."

"From Jean?"

"No, actually, from a lawyer. I'm suing for custody."

"Good for you." She got up and flung her arms around his neck. "Does this mean no more alcohol?"

"Well, I suppose you could help me find other means to evade my problems?"

"You mean I'm good for something," she teased, offering him her mouth.

"Say, he grinned, can you stay here tonight?"

"Sure."

"What do you want on it?" he asked, grabbing the phone book from the cabinet. Lauren saw the bottle tucked inside
out of the corner of her eye and stared at him.

"What was that?" she said sullenly.

"What do you want on your pizza?"

"Oh, no you don't, Peter." She went over and showed him what she'd seen, pulling it out. "Since when do you keep
your liquor in your desk?"

He stared into her chestnut colored eyes, not wanting to answer so he didn't, turning away, feeling his eyes burn
 with tears.

"Pete?!"

"Don't you think I'm under enough stress without you stopping by to baby-sit me?"

"I love you," she reminded. "I don't want to see you go back to it. I remember your horror stories. And I know you
don't want to. I'm trying to help."

He nodded, taking a deep breath. "Here, give it to me. I'll get rid of it." Pete grabbed the bottle and rinsed its contents down the sink, staring at the Twenty three ninty five price tag as he did so.

"I'm proud of you," Lauren told him, resting her head against his back. "I love you."

He turned around and held her, staying that way until she reminded him to order dinner.
 

The air was thick with moisture causing a murky haze to be cast in Hanoi.  Donovan shaded his eyes against the glare
while getting out of a cab. He paid the driver, but barely had enough left over for a tip. Caught up in the hurried
shuffle and never ending battle of finding a way to get Khien Su out, he hadn't made the time to cash in his travelers checks for proper currency. He hoped it wouldn't be but another day or so before he could return home.

Walking to the tiny huts he slapped thirsty mosquitoes from his flesh. That was one thing he missed about the states,
there weren't as many insects to deal with and rarely any major health concerns to worry about. Here it seemed that
everything was a health hazard. Though he'd had his share of vaccines before coming over a month ago, he'd had his bouts with vomiting and other digestive problems. The one thing he missed was Julie's cooking. He tried not to think about her too much. The few times he'd tried to call home to check up on her and Sean, the answering machine picked up and he just said that he'd call back later, but found that the chances were few and far between.

He knocked on Father Jacoby's door. "Padre," he muttered.

"Come on in. The door's open," said Jacoby, letting him in and offered a cigar.

Donovan refused. "Thanks, but no thanks. I've uh, got all the necessary forms." He laid the paper work on Father
Jacoby's desk. The priest picked up the documents, looking them over, seeing that he could hardly make out what was being implied.

"These are in Khmer."

"Yeah?" he shrugged. "What was I supposed to do?"

Jacoby shook his head. "I don't know, Donovan. It would be a lot simpler if they were in Vietnamese."

Donovan scratched his newly grown whiskers, his patience was growing thin. "Khien was born over there. Of course her records are going to be in their language. Look, I did what you said I needed to do. Now lets cut the monotony, okay?"

"You haven't done everything. The child needs immunizations. She needs to be well before she can get on that plane."

"Oh, I don't believe this!" he snapped. "You know damned well what that paper says. It says that she's my child. Now
you can't tell me I can't take her out."

"And you didn't hear what I just said," Jacoby shouted. "The child is sick. She needs medical care!"

"She'll get it in the states. A lot better than what she'll get if I leave her here." Without further hesitation, Donovan stormed out.

"Where are you going?" Jacoby called after him.

Donovan didn't respond heading for Khien Su's hut. He didn't bother knocking, but entered. Khien was tucked into her cot, sleeping, but lightly. For each breath she drew in, she let out a low whine. Donovan could feel the heat
radiating off of her body as he knelt beside her, taking her hand.

"Khien," he said softly.

"You can't do this, Donovan," Jacoby reminded again, joining him. "Give her a month."

"I can't. My girlfriend is expecting."

"Then come back after she has it. Maybe Khien Su will be well enough to leave then."

"No," Donovan insisted, watching the girls expression turn to joy as she stirred.

Khien sat up and put her arms around Donovan's neck giving him a warm embrace. Jacoby went out momentarily as Donovan started to help Khien pack her things into the metal trunk.

"You tell father I come?" Khien asked.

"Not yet."

"He happy... see me?"

"Yes, " he grinned.

Jacoby returned moments later with a Vietnamese Bible and tucked it on top of her belongings. Khien stared down at it for a long moment, her eyes clouding over with tears. Finally, she looked back at Jacoby. "I pray Buddha,
an nothing happen. I pray God... Mike come back... Thank you."

Jacoby hugged her. "Write to us, Khien. I put the address in the Bible. Tell me all about America."

"Yes," she agreed, wiping her tears away.

Jacoby took Donovan's hand and squeezed it, wishing him, "Good luck."
 

Intent on reading the latest issue of Parents Magazine, Julie waited quietly in Pete Forsythe's waiting room. Her
visits had become biweekly now, as there were only six weeks left before her due date of December tenth. She'd read all the how to book on child rearing and could hardly believe that soon she would soon take on this new and exciting role. However, Julie was a little leary of the whole birthing process.  Her first lamaze class was scheduled for next
week. Worried that Mike wouldn't be back in time, she'd invited her sister Gabby along in the  event that he wouldn't
make it. In spite of Gabby's obvious attitude problem, Julie really wanted to have an opportunity to bond with her, to
make up for lost time. Julie couldn't figure out why her sister was so full of animosity towards her, and wanted to
change her indifferent opinion.

"Juliet..," the nurse called.

Julie looked up and set her book on the chair next to hers. Then, she braced herself, using her arms to push
herself off of the chair. The bundle she was carrying seemed to be getting heavier these days. And she was growing more self-conscious with each passing day, wondering how long it would be before her figure came back.

Led down a narrow corridor, Julie stepped on a scale and was weighed. She read the numbers...one twenty, as the nurse wrote them down on the chart.

"Not bad," the girl observed. "How have you been feeling lately?

"The same as always," Julie confessed, joining the girl in one of the examining rooms. Getting up on the old familiar
table in which she would lie on seemed like an impossible task. She looked at it doubtfully. The nurse offered her
shoulder for support and Julie took it, forcing a smile. "Not much longer, anyway."

After having her blood pressure and temperature taken, Julie was left alone. It wasn't long before a doctor came
in, but it wasn't Pete Forsythe, rather an intern from George Stewart's Harlem clinic.

"Is Pete sick?" Julie asked.

The girl shook her head. "Personal problems. How are you today, Doctor Parrish?" She grabbed her stethoscope and
listened to Julie's lungs.

Julie nodded, tired of being asked a redundant question. She felt like saying, 'how would you feel?' But kept her calm.

"I heard Mike and Deniese went to Vietnam," the young doctor continued. "Helping refugees?"

Again, Julie nodded in response to what she tried to avoid thinking about.

"You must miss him," the doctor added. "He's a really neat guy, I hear. Pete said to do an iron test this time so when
were done here, Sara's going to take some blood."

"I haven't been taking the iron tablets," Julie confessed.

"Have you been fatigued?"

"Yeah," she muttered. "Look, I really don't need the lecture....uh, Sydney. I don't think I need a blood test
either."

"What do you suppose I should tell Pete then?"

"I don't really care," she said truthfully.

"Don't you?" Sydney stared at her in disbelief.

"I can't swallow the damned things. It's worse than taking aspirin without water. I only have six weeks left to go."

"Yes, but given your record you really should try."

Julie rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Can we please just get on with the exam?"

Sydney let out a sort sigh of frustration. "I'll have Pete call you later. Maybe he can find some different pills. Lay
back."

After having her stomach measured and listening to the babies heartbeat Julie found herself free to go. The
heartbeat had been on the high scale of normal leaving Julie to wonder if the old adage about girls heartbeats being
faster than boys were true. She hadn't really thought about what kind of baby she actually wanted. The only thing she
hoped for at this point was to make it to term and have Mike Donovan present during the delivery.

 
Around a large conference table sat a municipal judge, Jean Forsythe, her ex-husband Pete and their lawyers. Also
present was Lauren Stewart whom Jean couldn't stand and didn't understand why she had to be present. As far as she
was concerned, Jean wanted this woman to have nothing to do with Karen and Amy. But she tried to remind herself that her girls weren't babies anymore and that they were indeed old enough to make up their minds about people.

"What terms is your client asking for, Mrs. Smith?" the judge looked to Jean's lawyer, a tall, blond woman who spoke
with a southern draw.

"Mrs. Forsythe would like to retain custody of Amy and Karen Forsythe that they may return to Hawaii."

Pete felt his stomach muscles tighten. He still couldn't believe her nerve.

"And Dr. Forsythe?" Judge Cameron asked.

"My client would like full custody so that his daughters can stay here."

The judge looked down at the records in front of her, reading them carefully and looked at Jean.

"Why did you keep your girls away from their father for so long?"

"I couldn't get back to the states because of the traveling standards set by the Visitors," she said honestly.

"Then why didn't you call?!" asked Pete, unable to contain his anger. Lauren reached over and squeezed his hand gently, giving him a subtle reminder.

"Why didn't you?" the judge wondered too.

"I couldn't get a permit," Jean explained.

"Oh, bull!" Pete shot back.

"People, please," the judge asked. "Can we keep this civil?"

"She worked for the government," Pete went on. "She didn't have to keep me in the dark for three years."

"What about when the war ended the first time?" JudgeCameron questioned. "Did you contact him then?"

Jean was hesitant to answer, making herself barely audible.

"No."

Pete gave the judge an "I told you so" nod.

"Why not?" asked the judge, matter-of-factly.

Again, Jean was silent, searching for a viable explanation.

Lauren Stewart reached over with a hint of a smile on her face and poured herself some water from a crystal
pitcher. In her heart she felt that the judge would see Pete's point.

"I'm waiting, Mrs. Forsythe."

"My ex-husband has a drinking problem-" she started to say.

"You mean 'had' a drinking problem," Pete glared at her.

"How long have you been sober, Dr. Forsythe," asked the judge.

"Four years. She'd know that if she would've let me see  my kids every once and a while!"

"Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic," Jean argued.

The judge was not impressed.  "Okay. So your ex-husband is sober now. Don't you think he has a right to be near his
children?"

"Sure. I didn't say he couldn't come to Hawaii and visit them. I shouldn't have to stay here," she replied.

"I've got a better idea since you had your three years, how about I keep them for three years?" Pete suggested.

"All right," the judge interrupted, raising her hand to get their attention. "I think I've heard enough for one day. I will weigh the evidence and give you a decision two weeks from Tuesday. This meeting is adjourned."
 

Days from his fifteenth birthday, Sean Donovan stood in front  of the bathroom mirror, trying to part his locks of
curly dark hair. Tomorrow was the homecoming dance to which he would take Karen Forsythe, Pete's older daughter. It would be his official first date. He wondered if he had enough money to buy Karen's corsage, or what kind of
flowers she liked. Even though Karen was a year older and two grades ahead of Sean, she didn't seem to mind him taking her to the dance. Sean tried not to think about the fact that he didn't even know how to dance. He was surprised at all that Julie was even letting him go since his father said no dating and no car until he turned sixteen. In a lot of ways Julie seemed more easygoing than his father. And a small part of Sean was glad that his dad was away so he wouldn't try to stop the date from taking place.

Sean heard the doorbell ring, threw his comb down on the counter and anxiously headed to the door, hoping Karen was sneaking by before the night's Halloween party.  "I don't have my costume yet," he muttered, opening the door.

To his disappointment, it was Ham Tyler who was waiting outside and not the subject of his latest affection. "Mr. Tyler? Dad's not here. Julie's at the doctor."

"Where is he?" asked Ham, slipping in.

"Doing some assignment in Vietnam. Julie should be back soon. I don't think she's heard from him lately though. Come in, have a seat. Sorry, we don't have any beer. Want a soda?"

"That's okay." Ham was distracted by the sound of a car pulling up outside. He looked to see if it was Donovan, but
found it was only Julie. He watched her ease herself out of the Toyota Camry, and slowly make her way up the path to the cottage. He started laughing in hysteria. "The sight of you was worth the trip even if Gooder isn't around."

"Nice to see you too, Ham," she said sounding less than enthused. "What brings you to New York?" She saw Sean head to the bathroom. "Hey, Sean, when you're done looking at yourself, I need you to get the groceries out of the car, please."

Humiliated, Sean flipped off the bathroom light switch and headed outside. Julie may have been easy going, but she
could be just as annoying as his dad at times.

"Actually," Ham began, "Gooder told me to meet him here. He said there was some sort of emergency, but Sean
said he's in Vietnam. Do you have any clue as to what's going on?"

Julie giggled at the assumption. "Clueless, that's me. Hopefully, he's on his way here though." She told him
watching Sean carry in all four bags and put them on the kitchen counter, then he disappeared into the hallway.

"Why did he go to Nam in the first place?"

"Some investigation into Visitor internment camps." She glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing that the party
was only an hour away and she still had to go get her surprise costume put on over at Hannah's.  "Say, would you
want to escort me to a party since you have nothing better to do?"

"A Halloween Party?" Ham smirked. "I don't have a mask."

Julie smiled. "The one you're wearing is pretty fearsome if you ask me." She started to giggle again and Ham flashed
her a look.

"What are you going as, Humpty Dumpty?" he said seconds later.

"Very funny, Ham. Just a second," she muttered, heading to Sean's room where the boy was putting on his Dracula cape.  "Are you about ready?"

"Did he say Dad's on his way back?" Sean questioned, tying  the strings around his neck, and slipping some fangs into his mouth.

"I hope so."

"Dab," he hissed. "Judie, you gotta bake him et me go to dat dance."

"We'll see, Sean."

He followed her back out into the den muttering.. "thub bore bunny or duh corthage..."

"What?!" she giggled.

He pulled the fake teeth from his mouth and tried to speak again.  "I said I don't think I have enough money for the
corsage."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'll be your slave for a week," he pleaded.

"Not if your dad's here. His debt is greater."

"Tell him you'll let him off the hook if I can go to the dance!" he insisted, grinning from ear to ear.

"Ha. Ha. Ha."

"C'mon, Julie," he whined. "I'll die if someone else takes her. I don't want her to think I'm cheap or something. Just
five more dollars. I'll do anything."

"Anything... hmm?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Just give me the money."

"Pushy little s.o.b, isn't he?" Ham muttered.

"Okay," Julie said seconds later. "You have to change all the baby's diapers for the week after we bring it home-"

"No, no, no," Sean laughed. "I'm not that crazy. Anything else."

She gathered her purse. "We can work it out later. Are you coming, Ham? Hannah will be delighted to see you again, I'm sure."

"You look like you could use an escort," he agreed, offering her his arm.
 

Painted in hues of soft ivory and peach, the main entry of Hannah's mansion painted a picture of beauty for the eye to
behold. The old woman nodded approvingly at Deniese Daltrey who hung streamers of amber and black from a chandelier to the doorways that led to adjacent rooms.

In walked Pete from the parlor, carrying a bag full of freshly inflated balloons. He started handing them to Deniese and she fastened them with Scotch tape.

"This is so exciting," Hannah sighed. "I can't remember  the last time we had a big party like this."

"Liberation Day," Deniese grinned. "Minus the costumes and baby games."

"It'll be fun," Hannah reassured them.

"For the women," Pete agreed skeptically. "Heard from  Donovan?"

"No," Deniese said. "And I'm getting tired of being asked that. How was your hearing?"

"I dunno. They won't tell us the outcome for two weeks."

"How do the girls feel about it?"

"I'm not going to drag them into it anymore than they are."

"How thoughtful," sneered Jean Forsythe, coming in from the kitchen with her two girls.

"Jean," Pete uttered, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks, "I wasn't expecting you."

"Juliet's boy invited Karen. I thought I could chaperone."  She nudged their teenage daughter and tugged her hair.

"Sean wouldn't know what to do with a barbie doll, Mom," Karen muttered.

Pete glared at his ex saying, "Well, I think I can keep  an eye on them if you have something else you would rather
be doing like catching toads and boiling them for dinner,  or go and cast some evil spells on-"

"Peter!" Hannah cut him off

Again, his cheeks flushed. For once he wished he could learn to control his anger while in his daughters' presence.

"I can tell this is going to be a fun evening," said Deniese as the doorbell rang.

Hannah welcomed the unsuspecting guest of honor and her companions.

"Well now," she smiled at Ham. "If it isn't the ever so charming Mr. Tyler."

"How are you doing?" he replied.

"Oh, I'm hanging in there." Taking Julie's hand she  murmured, "Come now, lets get your costume on."

Julie looked at the winding, spiral staircase full of doubt as Hannah led her to it.

"I've got a better idea. Why don't you bring the clown suit down and I'll get dressed in the rest room down here."

"Clown suit?" Deniese asked.

Julie nodded. "I ruled out beach ball and Humpty Dumpty is a guy and all."

"Not only so, but Mitchell is coming as that," Hannah explained.

"And what is Sari, the horse who helped put him back together?" Pete snickered.

"Your Lauren is the head. Sari opted to be the horse's ass. Now if you'll excuse me, you kiddies might well go find
your costumes. There isn't much time left."    Hannah marched up the steps as Julie took a seat on the bottom platform and waited for her return.

Sean Donovan was busy admiring Karen Forsythe's pink chiffon gown which she wore off the shoulder. On her head
she wore a ribbon tied in a bow.

"Are you supposed to be Cinderella?" he said softly.

"Barbie," she smiled. "Would you like some punch? I made it myself."

"Sure," he answered, following her into the kitchen.

Julie caught the glances exchanged between Pete and Jean and smiled.  "He doesn't bite or anything. He's
housebroken."

Climbing down from her ladder, Deniese addressed Ham Tyler who was making a visual inspection of the room. "Is Donovan coming back soon?"

"He told me to meet him here," he explained, remembering her from news broadcasts. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

"Uh-... Well, it isn't for me to say," she said, trying to hide her smile.
 

Barely awake, Khien Su Tyler was kept alert by her own nagging need to cough every now and then.  As the cab
reached Long Island, Khien felt Mike Donovan squeeze her hand.

"We're almost there," he said, feeling warmth radiate from her body.

"You friends with Dr. James?" asked the cabbie with a thick Italian accent.

"Who?" Donovan muttered, stroking Khien's hair.

"Uh, spunky little red headed chick always fighting with Chef Boy Ardee, somethin uh Loom-somethin."

"You mean Sari?"

"Yeah, and um, she's always goin' places with that other short one, el preggo."

"What?" he laughed.

"Blondie. Juliet something."

"Have you uh, seen her lately?"

"Oh, yeah. Big as a house."

"Hey, that's my girlfriend."

"You mean you did that to her?"

"Yeah," he replied sounding agitated.

"I feel sorry for her then."

"You're not expecting a very big tip, are you?" asked Donovan, as they pulled up in front of the Tudor Mansion.
Again he gave Khien a little shake. He gave the driver a twenty muttering, "Keep the change," and  got out of the
car,leading the girl up to the front porch. The driver sped off in a hurry. Donovan rang the bell to be greeted by
Deniese.

"It's about time!" she grinned, trying to keep her voice down.

Khien Su's big brown eyes wondered the room aimlessly, taking in all the new sights and sounds. A concerned Deniese reached out and touched the girl's forehead.

"She's burning up," she assessed taking Khien's free hand.  "Come with me, honey. Let me get you some ice water."

 Khien looked to Donovan, seeking a gesture of approval. He gave her a wink, but was side tracked hearing Julie call from the parlor.

"Hey, Deniese! Is the horse's ass here yet?"

Donovan grinned and found his way to the group of people saying, "I don't think I deserve that?"

Dressed in her pumpkin costume, complete with a stem for a hat, with her stomach bulging even more than the norm thanks to the bed pillows that Hannah had insisted she stuff down in there, Julie leaped up from her seat muttering, "Mike."

He accepted her next to impossible hug, pressing a kiss to her ear. "Sorry I'm a little late."

"A little?" she snapped. "Were you successful?"

"Yeah, she's in the kitchen. She's not doing to good." He gestured to Pete who sat on the couch with Lauren trying to assemble a changing table they had given as a gift to the baby. "I could use your services right about now, if you
could break yourself away from that." Donovan also saw Ham who stood off in the corner.  "Tyler, I brought Khien Su
with me."

"Her mother?" the stalky man asked.

"I don't know." He gave Julie another short squeeze, noticing the pile of wrapped gifts on the table next to her
chair. "Don't let me spoil your party. I'll be around."

"Did anyone say what's wrong with her?"

He shook his head then went to the kitchen where Deniese sat with the girl offering sips of water from a tall glass. Pete followed dutifully along with a very anxious Ham Tyler.

"It's okay," said Deniese, putting the glass down on the table. "You don't have to finish it. I don't want you to get
sick again."

"Again?" asked Pete. "Is she queasy?"

Deniese nodded, stepping back and letting him observe the girl, but Khien's eyes were fixed on the Tyler. "My daddy?"

To Ham, Khien Su was the spitting image of the woman he'd married fifteen and a half years ago and he couldn't believe his eyes. It all seemed like a dream, too good to be true.  He stepped over to her for a closer look. Pete moved out of the momentarily as father and daughter were reunited.

Ham felt the tears escaping from his eyes as he continued to stare at her in wonder. "Your mother-" he started to
say.

Khien Su met her father's stare with a doubtful frown. "She not come back."
 

On Tuesday, November fourteenth, Pete and Jean met at the courthouse to hear the judges final decision. Unlike the last time, they met in the courtroom, sitting with their lawyers in the place of defendant and plaintiff.

he bailiff, a tall man by the name of Andrew came out into the Room announcing, "All rise for her honor Judge Cameron."

The beautiful woman dressed in a black robe took her place, Banged her gable, mumbling, "This court is now in session."

Jean Forsythe wiped sweaty palms on her skirt. She'd tried to keep from being nervous. The scent of Marlboro cigarettes on her breath was proof of it. She'd thought about what shewould do in the event that she lost her babies to their father. It occurred to her that she might stay in New York and get a Job, but not stay on at Brook Cove where tensions against her were on the rise.

"I have considered the facts and have come to a decision based on the well being of Karen and Amy Forsythe," Judge Cameron said. "It is my opinion that Jean Forsythe has violated the original  custody agreement set in this court five years ago, keeping Dr. Forsythe from his daughters without just cause. Therefore, I feel that Dr. Forsythe's wish must be granted. Karen and Amy Forsythe shall go to live with their father no later than this Saturday at
ten a.m. In reversal of the original custody of arrangement, Jean Forsythe will retain partial custody of Karen and Amy and will be  entitled to an alternate weekend schedule if she so chooses. That is all."

Jean stared down at the table in front of her, her eyes burned with tears. Without word, she got up and dashed out of the courtroom, finding the nearest ladies room and started to sob hysterically, locking herself in one of the empty johns.
 

Diagnosed with Hepatitis B, a liver disease, Khien Su had spent three weeks at Cornell Med Center undergoing treatments to relieve her symptoms. The day before Thanksgiving Khien took up residence with her father at Donovan and Juliet's place. On Thanksgiving morning, she laid on the couch watching Splash on the VCR. It
was the best that she'd felt in years, surrounded by caring people. Somehow, she knew that she would be okay.

In the kitchen, Sean Donovan helped Julie put a stuffed turkey into the oven.

"How many hours?" asked Sean.

"Maybe four," Julie said breathlessly, slamming the oven door shut. "When the timer pops out."

Sean smiled mischievously. "Do you work out the same way?"

"Huh?"

"Your belly button. Does it work the same way. Like when it  sticks all the way out, does that mean you'll have the baby?"

"Yeah!" she growled giving him an incredulous stare.

"Is this kid annoying you again?" asked Mike coming into join them, presenting Julie with a bouquet of orange, red
and yellow mums.

"Thanks," she said, taking the flowers and forcing a smile.

Looking into her eyes he could see that she was hiding Something.

"You're doing too much," he assumed. "Why don't you go sit?  Sean and I'll take care of this."

"I wanted to do this," she whined, accepting his embrace. "Its our first Thanksgiving."

"We'll have plenty more," he reassured.

She buried her head in his shoulder, not wanting him to see her tears, but he felt them through his shirt. He pushed her head back gently asking, "What?"

"Its just my back. It seems constant anymore."

"You took something?"

"I can't."

"Well then, you know what you have to do."

She nodded, and obediently slipped off into the bedroom.

Sean stared out the kitchen window, watching huge, white flakes of snow fall to the ground. "Man, its really coming
down... Just in time for break. Too bad you have to work  tomorrow. Heh. Heh."

"Better watch it, or I'll make you shovel the drive," Mike teased.

"Ham said he would to earn his keep, you know."

"Oh no," Mike argued. "He needs to be there for Khien. You'll do your part if you want to go to that concert with Karen."

"Oh, all right."

Ham Tyler came in from the back way all covered with snow. He tore off his coat and laid it across the back of a chair.

"The plow hasn't come by yet," he muttered bitterly.

"Well, it is a holiday," Donovan answered. "Maybe I'll luck  out and not be able to go to work tomorrow."

"Maybe I'll luck out and invite Karen over to build a snowman," Sean muttered.

Mike gave him a dirty look.

"You can't play with that snow," Ham informed Sean. "It's too wet. Has anyone seen the weather report?"

"Khien's watching a movie," Mike answered. "Sean, why don't you go get that boombox of yours and we'll listen for the weather."

The boy went away as Ham took a seat at the table. "Where's Julie?"

"I made her rest. She's not doing too good."

Dressed in her nightgown and bathrobe, Khien stumbled into the Kitchen barefooted. "Mike, the television broke."

Donovan looked at the oven to see the light clock was off. "Uh, no. I think the power went out."

"Great," said Ham bitterly.

 "I'll call the power company." Donovan picked up the phone, but there was no dial tone. He put it back down muttering, "Maybe not."

"What?"

"It's dead."

"Dad!" Sean hurried back in empty handed. "Julie said to come get you. She said her water broke."

"Great," he said dryly.

Once in their bedroom, he found Julie sitting on the floor, panting.

"You can't do this now," he said, helping her up onto the bed.

"Call Pete," she begged. "Tell him the contractions aren't regular yet. Ask him what we should do."

Donovan was shaking his head. "The power's out. So is the phone. I'll Send Ham for help, okay?"

"Umm-Hmm," she murmured, feeling her abdomen tighten. "Owww!"

Mike took her hand, but she shoved it away.

"Get help, honey."

He wasn't willing to leave her side. "HEY, TYLER!!"

Seconds later, Ham was there.

"Start the car. We're taking her in," Donovan announced.

"No, it's too soon," Julie begged.

"Gooder, can I have a word with you in private?" Ham asked, watching Julie thrash in her torment.

Away and out of earshot Donovan looked to Ham for insight.

"On the radio they said its coming down at two inches an hour. Visibilities zip."

Donovan winced, "No."

Ham looked in on Julie who seemed to be better for the moment. Donovan went back over to her. "Sweetheart, the roads are bad.  We may have to wait a couple hours."

"Its okay, I told you it was a bit premature anyway," she  admitted. "I'm sorry about the turkey and all."

"Turkey? He grinned. Who cares about that? We're having our baby today."

"No, I'm having our baby. You get to watch," she corrected.

"Julie, can I get you something to make you feel more comfortable?" Ham offered.

"Not yet, thanks."
 

Four hours passed with the roads and Juliet Parrish's condition worsening. She was up and about now, only to change
positions in hopes to relieve some of the pain. Her contractions were two minutes apart and increasing in intensity. The coldness inside the house made matters worse. Julie stood next to her bed, leaning forward with her hands pushing against the mattress. Mike Donovan was standing beside her with his hand on her back, listening to her breathing become irregular again.

"I can't... I can't," Julie babbled. "I can't do this anymore."

You're doing fine," he reassured.

"OHHH!" she groaned. "I have to push."

"All right," he told her, helping her back into a lying down position.

Julie screamed as the pain grew stronger. Donovan got went down to the end of the bed.

"Can you see anything?" Julie cried.

"Not yet. Want to take a break?"

"I wish," she said feeling another contraction coming on. She sobbed in agony, her face turning a bright red in color as she tried to help her child out into the world.

Donovan looked again seeing a heap of wet, dark hair he smiled. "That a girl."

"One more," Julie murmured giving it her all.

Donovan watched in anticipation, but nothing. "Another, c'mon. We're almost there."

Again she grunted and made the face that had become familiar within these past few hours. Donovan caught the baby's head in his hands, but they still had a ways to go. "Just one more."

"That's what you said last time," Julie whined.

"I mean it this time," he reassured.

Her heart racing, Julie strained, telling herself that it would soon be over.

Donovan gave his new child a gentle tug and it was completely out. After clearing the mucous from its mouth, the child began to wail.

Julie started to cry again, but not from pain, rather from joy as Donovan laid the naked baby on her stomach saying, "There you are, Mom. We have a daughter."

She reached down and stroked the crying infant's head saying, "I love you."